Tips on Fly Fishing the San Juan with MidgeMan

Hey Jonas I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy watching you and your Dad fishing, it's very relaxing. I'm so proud of the man you've become and I can't wait to see more of your adventures

Hi, in May this year, as part of a vacation, I visited Albuquerque, reconnected with a wonderful friend who introduced me to this fishery, which is the fabulous SJ. We caught a load of browns and a few rainbows, including a PB for me a 7+ lb rainbow. Incidentally, the rainbow took thirty plus minutes to land as it gave me the run around. I wish I could fish the SJ more, alas being from New Zealand, the privilege has to wait until my next trip. Thank you for your video, the instructions, and for highlighting this beautiful river valley.

Excellent video of what looks to be and excellent time, Mr. Yonas :)

I've watched your caney fork fishing video on another channel like 50 times. Helped me learn what flies to use.

Fantastic video!! Thank you. I’m heading to Durango in a week and I’m planning to do a day on the San Juan. Looks like I’m gonna have to stock up on the smalll stuff!!

Are you fishing midges on a dry dropper rig??

I noticed you tie your tippet for the second fly to the bend of the hook of your first fly. Try tying your tippet to the eye of the1st fly instead of tying to the bend of the hook and you probably won't lose as many fish. Just a friendly tip. Tight lines.

I was driving through the area last week (8/1/24) and had my gear with me so I took a couple of hours to fish the Simon Point access area. I've never fished the SJ but I have fished a lot of northern NM and southern CO streams and rivers. This was the first time I've ever been completely skunked for a two hour period! Not a single take. It was late morning - noonish on a 95 degree windless day and no obvious hatch was going on. I tried lots of subsurface patterns in some very fishy 48 degree water. Now I understand that my patterns were way too big. Thinking "big water/big fish", I was fishing size 14-18 nymphs/emergers under size 6-8 hoppers/indicators. I even tried an SJ worm pattern in frustration. Thanks for the great advice and video. I loved the river and the area so I'm heading back there soon for a longer and better kitted stay- including my high-powered cheaters so I can tie on a #24-26 to a 6x tippet! (I have some of the same issues as your Dad and I'm definitely watching the video he recommended for the Pitzen knot. )

one of the better fly fishing videos I have ever watched, great information and a lot of fun. Thank you!!

Awesome video

I grew up fishing the SJ since I was about 13. It's easy to take for granted how great fishing I've had my entire life. I live in Utah now and enjoy fishing the Provo but it's a different kind of fishing experience from the San Juan.

Another tip would to never do the dumb fly rod in the mouth pic.

Good stuff my friend! It was nice fishing the river with you today. Hope to see you out there again! 🎣

Lots of absolutely dumb fly rod in the mouth pix. Total rookies

Nice job!! Good mix of scenery/fishing/tips. Have you ever tried tying on the tiniest of midges with a tiny nonslip loop knot to allow more movement? I do this with a “slip” version by using a uni knot, which can be pulled back a tiny bit to form a tiny loop. It’s not ideal since it slips down to the eye on a hook up; bad to have any knot slippage on a big fish lol! Maybe someday I’ll get enough determination to learn a real loop knot for tiny stuff. BTW, I use the uni knot for all my rigging. Since it’s a slip knot, you can remove it from the hook bend and then tighten it to another hook bend. Comes in handy sometimes.

The fly shop is racist and they JUDGE YOU. dont take there snacks cuz there pretty much all expired!!! Went there a few times and was treated pretty poorly